Umbrella for reliably adjusting dome orientation

ABSTRACT

An angle-adjustable umbrella includes a central shaft consisting of at least a lower shaft tube and an upper shaft tube pivotally connected to the lower shaft tube by an angle-adjusting device; a rib assembly pivotally secured to an upper notch on a top of the shaft and a runner slidably held on the shaft; and the angle-adjusting device located in or adjacent to a central portion of a ferrule of the runner when opening the umbrella for ergonomically and reliably adjusting a dome orientation of the umbrella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,797 disclosed an umbrella frame having a joint ortilting means (1) provided in between a top (3) of a shaft (4, 5) and arunner (2) for tilting the first part (4) of the shaft with respect tothe second part (5) of the shaft. However, this prior art has thefollowing drawbacks:

-   -   1. Reviewing the sketch as illustrated in FIG. 8 for simulating        the tilting of the upper part (S1) of the shaft with respect to        the lower part (S2) of the prior art, even the upper part (S1)        has been biased for a large angle A (such as 70° as deviated        from the original shaft axis), the umbrella dome U is slightly        biased since a central axis defined between a top T and a runner        center C is only biased for a small angle B.    -   2. A force arm of the upper part S1 of the shaft (between the        top T and pivot D) is so small since the pivot D is located        between the top T and the runner (at position C in FIG. 8) so        that the tilting adjustment for tilting the umbrella dome U will        require a heavier force, thereby causing an inconvenient or        uncomfortable operation for tilting the umbrella dome or frame.    -   3. The snout (12) of the joint ball (10) is obtuse (for the        reason to be stably retained in the recess 15 formed in the        cup 11) and the number of the annular recess or grooves 15        adapted to be engaged with the snout (12) of the prior art may        thus be limited, the umbrella frame can not be micro-adjusted        accordingly.

The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art andinvented the present umbrella for reliably adjusting a dome orientation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an angle-adjustableumbrella including a central shaft consisting of at least a lower shafttube and an upper shaft tube pivotally connected to the lower shaft tubeby an angle-adjusting device; a rib assembly pivotally secured to anupper notch on a top of the shaft and a runner slidably held on theshaft; and the angle-adjusting device located in or adjacent to acentral portion of a ferrule of the runner when opening the umbrella forergonomically and reliably adjusting a dome orientation of the umbrella.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an opening umbrella in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing an inclined umbrella of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional drawing of the angle-adjusting means of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a modification of the angle-adjusting means of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a first disk member of the angle-adjusting means of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a right-side view of the disk member as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an illustration showing an inclined umbrella in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustration showing an inclined umbrella as inferentiallymade from the prior art of U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,797.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1˜7, the present invention comprises: a central shaft1 consisting of at least a lower shaft tube 11 and an upper shaft tube12; a rib assembly 2 pivotally secured to an upper notch 20 on a top ofthe shaft 1 and pivotally secured to a runner 4 slidably held on theshaft 1; and an angle-adjusting means 3 pivotally connecting the uppershaft tube 12 and the lower shaft tube 11 and located in or adjacent toa central portion of the runner 4 when opening the umbrella.

The central shaft 1 may be multiple folds consisting of a plurality oftubes telescopically engageable with on another. As shown in FIGS. 1 and2, a lowermost shaft tube 13 is telescopically engaged with the lowershaft tube 11. When opening the umbrella, the tubes 11, 13, 12 areextended and locked by a fastener 14 provided on the shaft 1. However,the number of tubes for forming the telescopic shaft 1 is not limited inthe present invention.

The rib assembly 2 includes: a top rib 21 pivotally secured to the uppernotch 20 on the top of the shaft 1, and a stretcher rib 22 pivotallysecured to the top rib 21 and the runner 4.

The rib assembly 2 may also be formed as multiple folds, but not limitedin the present invention.

The angle-adjusting means 3 includes: a first disk member 31, a seconddisk member 32 releasably rotatably engaged with the first disk member31 and pivotally connected with the first disk member 31 by a pivot 33resiliently axially retained in between the first and second diskmembers 31, 32.

The angle-adjusting means 3 is located in (or adjacent to) a centralportion of a ferrule 41 of the runner 3 when locked on the shaft 1 whenopening the umbrella (FIG. 1).

The first disk member 31 secured to the lower shaft tube 11, equivalentto and corresponding to the second disk member 32, includes: a pluralityof first teeth 311 annularly formed on an inside periphery of the firstdisk member 31 each first tooth 311 having a ridge line (or top land)311 t radially aligned with a radius R of the disk member 31, a centralhole 310 formed through the first disk member 31 for pivotally insertingthe pivot 33 through the central hole 310, a first cylindrical chamber312 recessed in an outer portion of the first disk member 31 for passingthe pivot 33 through the cylindrical chamber 312 having a first tensionspring 331 disposed around the pivot 33 and retained within the firstcylindrical chamber 312 in between a first chamber bottom 312 and an endcap 333 of the pivot 33, and a disk recess 310r (FIG. 5) adjacent to thefirst teeth 311 for rotatably mounting the second disk member 32 asreleasably rotatably engaged with the first disk member 31.

The first disk member 31 further includes a lower sleeve 313 protrudingdownwardly for inserting the lower shaft tube 11 in a sleeve hole 315recessed in the lower sleeve 313, and a ring portion 314circumferentially formed on the lower sleeve 313 for engaging the runner4 when opening the umbrella.

The disk recess 310 r is formed on an upper portion of the lower sleeve313 for accommodating the second disk member 32 in the disk recess 310r.

Each disk member 31, 32 may be formed as a circular disk, or asemi-spherical shaped member.

Each disk member 31 or 32 may be integrally or directly formed with theshaft tube 11 or 12 respectively.

The second disk member 32, equivalent to and corresponding to the firstdisk member 31 and secured to the upper shaft tube 12, includes: aplurality of second teeth 321 annularly formed on an inside periphery ofthe second disk member 32 each second tooth 321 having a ridge lineradially aligned with a radius of the disk member 32, a central hole 320formed through the second disk member 32 for pivotally inserting thepivot 33 through the central hole 320, a second cylindrical chamber 322recessed in an outer portion of the second disk member 32 for passingthe pivot 33 through the cylindrical chamber 322 having a second tensionspring 332 disposed around the pivot 33 and retained within the secondcylindrical chamber 322 in between a second chamber bottom 322 b and anut 334 rotatably engaged with the pivot 33, and a disk recess 320 radjacent to the second teeth 321 for rotatably mounting the first diskmember 31 as releasably rotatably engaged with the second disk member32.

The second disk member 32 further includes an upper sleeve 323protruding upwardly for inserting the upper shaft tube 12 in a sleevehole 325 recessed in the upper sleeve 323.

The runner 4 includes: a ferrule 41 for pivotally securing the stretcherribs 22 of the rib assembly 2, a tubular body 42 secured to the ferrule41 and slidably held on the shaft tube 11, and a push button 43 slidablymounted in the tubular body 42 for operatively disengaging the runner 4,when locked on an umbrella-opening position, for closing the umbrella.

The push button 43 includes a ring member 43 r slidably disposed on theshaft tube 11, a latch 44 formed on the ring member 43 r and operativelyengaged with the ring portion 314 formed on the lower sleeve 313 of theangle-adjusting means 3 when opening the umbrella, and a spring 45retained in the tubular body 42 of the runner 4 and normally resilientlyurging the latch 44 and the push button 43 outwardly in order to bedepressed when intended to close the umbrella.

Other locking mechanisms for locking the runner 4 on the shaft whenopening the umbrella may be further modified in the present invention,not limited.

As shown in FIG. 4, the nut 334 may be modified to have a socket 334arecessed in the nut adapted to be driven by a driver or other tools.

Upon fastening of the nut 334 on the pivot 33 as bearing against theresilience of the tension springs 332, 331 respectively retained in thecylindrical chambers 322, 312, the first and second disk members 31, 32will be tightly engaged with each other as limited by the end cap 333and the nut 334 of the pivot 33.

When it is intended to adjust an inclined angle or orientation of theumbrella dome U (or canopy or cover), the pulling of the umbrella dome U(or the biasing of the upper tube 12) will disengage the first diskmember 31 from the second disk member 32 (namely, disengaging the firstand second teeth 311, 321 rotatably engaging with each other) untilobtaining the desired inclined dome orientation by biasing the uppertube 12 (about an upper axis X1) from the lower tube 11 (about a loweraxis X).

When deadly locking the nut 334 on the pivot 33 for limiting the twodisk members 31, 32 between the cap 333 and the nut 334, the two diskmembers 31, 32 will be “locked” without further rotation, thereby stablysecurely locking the upper shaft tube 12 above the lower shaft tube 11defining a bending angle between the tubes 11, 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 for the present invention, the upper tube 12 isbiased for angle A (e.g. 70°) and the opposite stretcher ribs 22 areeach biased with angle A about a center C (which may be assumed as afulcrum or center of the angle-adjusting means 3 and of the ferrule 41of the runner 4 of the present invention). Therefore, the umbrella domeU is biased with the angle A which is greater than the tilting angel Bas effected by the prior art as illustrated in FIG. 8 since angle A isalways larger than angle B in view of the triangle TCD as shown in FIG.8.

Accordingly, the present invention may be operated for preciselyadjusting a biasing angle for reliably orienting the umbrella dome U.Meanwhile, the force arm F of the present invention is greater than thatF1 of the prior art, indicating that the present invention may beoperated more lightly and ergonomically.

For angularly biasing the umbrella dome of the present invention, it canbe micro-adjusted due to the tooth-to-tooth engagement between the twodisk members 31, 32. So, the present invention may be adjusted in a moreprecise biasing angle when tilting the umbrella dome.

Accordingly, this invention is especially suitable for serving as abeach umbrella or an umbrella for shielding sunlight in a play ground,pool or recreation center.

The present invention is superior to the prior art such as the U.S. Pat.No. 5,086,797.

The present invention may be modified without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

1. An angle-adjustable umbrella comprising: a central shaft consistingof at least a lower shaft tube and an upper shaft tube pivotallyconnected with an angle-adjusting means; a rib assembly for securing anumbrella cover thereon including at least a top rib pivotally secured toan upper notch formed on a top of said central shaft and a stretcher ribrespectively pivotally secured to said top rib and to a ferrule of arunner slidably held on said central shaft; said angle-adjusting meanslocated at or adjacent to a central portion of said ferrule of saidrunner; whereby upon biasing of said upper shaft tube about saidangle-adjusting means, said umbrella cover will be angularly oriented bydeviating an upper axis of said upper shaft tube from a lower axis ofsaid lower shaft tube.
 2. An umbrella according to claim 1, wherein saidcentral shaft includes at least a lowermost shaft tube telescopicallyengaged with said lower shaft tube.
 3. An umbrella according to claim 1,wherein said angle-adjusting means includes a first disk member formedwith the lower shaft tube, a second disk member formed with the uppershaft tube and pivotally connected with said first disk member by apivot; said first disk member rotatably engaged with said second diskmember.
 4. An umbrella according to claim 3, wherein said first diskmember is secured to the lower shaft tube, and includes: a plurality offirst teeth annularly formed on an inside periphery of the first diskmember each said first tooth having a ridge line radially aligned with aradius of the first disk member, a central hole formed through the firstdisk member for pivotally inserting the pivot through the central hole,a first cylindrical chamber recessed in an outer portion of the firstdisk member for passing the pivot through the cylindrical chamber havinga first tension spring disposed around the pivot and retained within thefirst cylindrical chamber in between a first chamber bottom and an endcap of the pivot, and a first disk recess adjacent to the first teethfor rotatably mounting therein the second disk member as releasablyrotatably engaged with the first disk member.
 5. An umbrella accordingto claim 4, wherein said first disk member, as engaged with said seconddisk member, further includes a lower sleeve protruding downwardly forinserting the lower shaft tube in a sleeve hole recessed in the lowersleeve, and a ring portion circumferentially formed on the lower sleevefor engaging a runner when opening the umbrella.
 6. An umbrellaaccording to claim 5, wherein said lower sleeve has a first disk recessformed in an upper portion of the lower sleeve for accommodating thesecond disk member in the disk recess.
 7. An umbrella according to claim3, wherein each said disk member is formed as a circular disk.
 8. Anumbrella according to claim 3, wherein said second disk member,equivalent to and corresponding to the first disk member and secured tothe upper shaft tube, includes: a plurality of second teeth annularlyformed on an inside periphery of the second disk member each said secondtooth having a ridge line radially aligned with a radius of the seconddisk member, a central hole formed through the second disk member forpivotally inserting the pivot through the central hole, a secondcylindrical chamber recessed in an outer portion of the second diskmember for passing the pivot through the cylindrical chamber having asecond tension spring disposed around the pivot and retained within thesecond cylindrical chamber in between a second chamber bottom and a nutrotatably engaged with the pivot, and a second disk recess adjacent tothe second teeth for rotatably mounting therein the first disk member asreleasably rotatably engaged with the second disk member.
 9. An umbrellaaccording to claim 8, wherein said second disk member further includesan upper sleeve protruding upwardly for inserting the upper shaft tubein a sleeve hole recessed in the upper sleeve.
 10. An umbrella accordingto claim 9, wherein said upper sleeve has a second disk recess formedtherein for accommodating the first disk member in said disk recess. 11.An umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said runner includes: aferrule for pivotally securing the stretcher ribs of the rib assembly, atubular body secured to the ferrule and slidably held on the shaft tube,and a push button slidably mounted in the tubular body for operativelydisengaging the runner, when locked on an umbrella-opening position, forclosing the umbrella.
 12. An umbrella according to claim 11, whereinsaid push button includes a ring member slidably disposed on the shafttube, a latch formed on the ring member and operatively engaged with aring portion formed on a lower sleeve of an angle-adjusting means whenopening the umbrella, and a spring retained in the tubular body of therunner and normally resiliently urging the latch and the push buttonoutwardly in order to be depressed when intended to close the umbrella.13. An umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said nut is formed with asocket recessed in the nut adapted to be driven by a tool.